Support
Support

Depression

Depression affects people in Australia every day. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with depression.

Start a conversation

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Categories
Start a conversation

Pinned discussions

BeyondBlue Hello! Read this if you're not sure how to get started
  • replies: 0

Welcome This section of the Beyond Blue Forums is for talking about our experiences with depression. There are lots of chats about how it makes us feel, what it’s like to live with depression and what has worked to help in these times. Thank you for ... View more

Welcome This section of the Beyond Blue Forums is for talking about our experiences with depression. There are lots of chats about how it makes us feel, what it’s like to live with depression and what has worked to help in these times. Thank you for coming this far, we know it can be really hard to take these steps if depression is in your life - we see you and think this is a great step. To get the most out of this space we have a few tips: Get involved. The Forums work best for you when you get active and post where you can. Now, we know that can be really hard, especially when you are experiencing depression. So, if you can post something supportive to someone else here, that would be an incredible start. Speak from the heart. This community wants to know how YOU feel and what has worked for YOU. We trust that you have something unique to say and we can’t wait to hear it. Check in. Lots of the discussions in this section of the Forums have been going for years and they are some of the richest conversations we have. Keep checking in to get new ideas and offer your support. We know it can be tough to start, but when you are ready we want to hear your thoughts. If you need some time to get to know the community, that's okay! Have a look around and see where you want to get involved. Thank you for being here! Beyond Blue

Jeriava How do I talk to my doctor?
  • replies: 9

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really ... View more

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really scared that they’ll judge me or won’t believe anything I say. I’m really anti social so I feel like I won’t be able to say what I wanna say or I’ll say the wrong thing causing them to just dismiss me and move me along without helping. I’m just tired of feeling alone, depressed and just worthless but I’m really scared to talk to them.

AGrace SELF HELP TIPS FOR MANAGING DEPRESSION
  • replies: 132

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the ... View more

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the 5 senses Distress Tolerance – Accepting Emotions and Self Soothing Distraction – Put the thoughts/feelings aside and come back to them when you are ready to deal with them Positive Affirmations – Have some affirmations written down repeat them to yourself daily Sleep/Exercise/Diet – All 3 aspects of our lifestyle can impact the way we think/feel Increasing Pleasurable Activities – Engage in at least one pleasurable activity per day

All discussions

Start a conversation

littlemisspippa A message of hope
  • replies: 6

Hi all, I wanted to spread a message of hope. I have recently relapsed into anxiety (with depression). Around 3 years ago, being bullied at work with a number of stress made me have a number of panic attacks, issues with sleeping and eating and just ... View more

Hi all, I wanted to spread a message of hope. I have recently relapsed into anxiety (with depression). Around 3 years ago, being bullied at work with a number of stress made me have a number of panic attacks, issues with sleeping and eating and just feeling like a walking zombie. I had a melt down and it took me 3 weeks before l was better to go back to work. During this time I saw my doctor and got treatment. It was that hardest time in my life and yet te proudest because l went back to work, lodged a compliant with HR because l couldn't let him do that to others. I don't know what happened with him but that's not my issue. I continues working for 3 months and on the morning l was penning my letter to leave work, I was called into a meeting to be told my job was made redundant. I was going to leave and yet l scored a redunancy payout! I made the mistake of thinking l was better earlier this year and l stopped taking my tablets. Considently this, I lasted a fairly long time before my anxiety took over. Add a breakup, stressful work, neighbour issues, moving, sick grandma etc. I am back on my meds and l knownl will be fine. I say l have an anxiety disorder but when it gets out of hand, I get symptoms of depression. . Know that depression is just a disease and you can get better (just remember to listen to you doctor!). Tell yourself you are not a depressed person you just have depression. Be kind to yourself as this is a terrible disease and let others help you recover. Practice smiling and force yourself o laugh and be silly - eventually you won't have to please remember you are not along as this affects far too many and l hope my message has given you hope pippa and her kittens Bam Bam and Pebbles (see profile pic)

lm99 White Picket Fence
  • replies: 7

Not sure where to start. Text book fantastic partner. 3 beautiful kids. Volunteer at the local sports club. I have the white picket fence. I thought that if I convinced myself long enough in the dream I would be fixed. Clock on clock off next day beg... View more

Not sure where to start. Text book fantastic partner. 3 beautiful kids. Volunteer at the local sports club. I have the white picket fence. I thought that if I convinced myself long enough in the dream I would be fixed. Clock on clock off next day begins. My family is not very supportive. My sister points out on a regular basis how Im not good enough at anything and my brothers drain me with all their dramas. My folks are old school. Stuck in their ways and how we should be. Die by the sword of 'what will people think'. And I must keep up the charade. See Im the fix it girl. If there is a problem I fix it. If you need something, I do it. I solve it all. Hubby is everything you should want. He is loyal and honest and he loves me. Really loves me. And I love him. He knows somethings not right but I just cant let him in. Truth is I know he would be happier without me. I know what you will say but he would. He deserves so much more than I can give. I have this huge part of me that I keep hidden away and I wont allow anyone to get near it ever. Its been for so long, I dont know what its like without it. If you come close I will run and if you love me I will hurt you until you hate me. I wont let her get hurt ever again. Noone will know. I have let others in before but they always leave. They dont look at you the same way when they know. I think, I will just keep busy. Take on more work. Focus on the kids. Fix everyone else and no-one will see. Play the white picket fence game. But im tired. I want to not be but I cant do that to my kids. So back to playing the white picket fence. It is what it is I guess? L

Sn0wLeopard Daylight savings and depression
  • replies: 2

Hello! I have been struggling since daylight savings has started. I really find that once winter starts coming in, my symptoms increase and I lack motivation and struggle to enjoy the things I used to. Everything is hard - finding energy to go to wor... View more

Hello! I have been struggling since daylight savings has started. I really find that once winter starts coming in, my symptoms increase and I lack motivation and struggle to enjoy the things I used to. Everything is hard - finding energy to go to work is difficult, and then I have after work hobbies I partake in - and lately I havent been going. I really enjoy the activities but I just don't have the energy. In the past I was on medication and I chose to stop taking it, more so for anxiety as I'd worked through my depressive symptoms with a psychologist and felt that I was experiencing more anxiety than depression - but lately, the depression is really kicking in and I am starting to feel the dark cloud looming. I hate this feeling and I want to nip it in the bud before the symptoms worsen. I honestly think that daylight savings plays a huge role in this though because I recall the same thing happening last year! Does anyone else get affected by daylight savings?

Zan DEPRESSION REALLY ISN'T THAT BAD A THING.
  • replies: 1

One heck of a lot of people only see their depression as being a bad thing. Well I for one wouldn't be the enlightened person I am today if it were not for my depression. My depression actually got me out of bed one morning (after many many years of ... View more

One heck of a lot of people only see their depression as being a bad thing. Well I for one wouldn't be the enlightened person I am today if it were not for my depression. My depression actually got me out of bed one morning (after many many years of suffering) and inspired me to re-examine and understand not only my entire life --- from a premature birth, to why a mother who suffered post natal depression and couldn't care for her baby, to a little boy abused, to a primary school kid left at home on his own, to a suicidal teenager with alcohol poisoning, to a young man experiencing 5 workplace redundancies in a row, to someone with brain trauma and so confused that nothing in life mattered ---- and why these events in my life had made me the individual I was. Through my depression I discovered that all life's experiences permanently impact the brain of the individual ... whether they be from what is called our "nature" experience (DNA - genetic - ethnicity, eye/hair colour, sex, height, disabilities etc) or our "nurture" experience (parenting/family influences, peer group influences, religion/atheist, schooling, friends, accident/injuries impacts etc). And because no one else (not even identical twins) shares the exact same "nature/nurture" experience (with identical twins perceiving even the exact same events through unique and very separate eyes and even a slightly different physical location), I worked out why I was different to everyone else and why they were different to me. I found the very reason why some people succeed and some fail. Those who succeed simply had a totally different "nature/nurture" experience to me ... and if I had had their same experience I would have succeeded in the exact same manner. They were neither better, nor more able, nor more "superior" to myself. They were simply lucky. Which meant that I wasn't. Some of you might find that depressing. I don't. Why? Because through my depression I discovered who I was and why I was who I was. And surprising as this might sound ... not that many people on this planet actually know why they are who they are ---- with the classic Zen Buddhist question being "Who are you?" So who are you? Your name -no! Ethnicity - no! Religion - no! Occupation - no! Qualification - no! Financial or marital status - no! Disability or abilities - no! And yet my depression was able to answer that question for me.

citizen1911 How to do this alone?
  • replies: 4

My depression had for many years been heavily disguised by my success in life.I grew up in a unstable home. I left my birth country at the age of 19 to escape from my family. I had been alone ever since, keeping some contact with a few of them back h... View more

My depression had for many years been heavily disguised by my success in life.I grew up in a unstable home. I left my birth country at the age of 19 to escape from my family. I had been alone ever since, keeping some contact with a few of them back home but have had no family surrounding me since.The good news is I transferred most of my loneliness to adventuring and fitness. Outwardly everyone sees me as fun, smart and successful. Unfortunately I had no success in any relationship. At the age of 36 I found myself desperately alone.Two years ago a family tragedy occurred. I went into severe depression when I realized how truly alone I was after my dysfunctional family broke up. I never got through the depression, after trying counseling amongst many other things. Now it feels like a chronic companion and I had lost all motivation in life. I am no longer fun and exciting to be around and even my friends start to go. I am in a constant state of despair. When I talk about it now, most people just ignore it or tell me how 'lucky' I am because I have money and a fruitful life. If that was truly the case why don't I feel like living anymore?How do I do this alone, with no friends, no family and no one tthat really cares?

guest139 Depressed and anxious
  • replies: 4

I'm new to this so I'm not too sure how it works..I'm here because I've hit an all time low and really don't know where to turn. my partner and I broke up 6 months ago and I feel lost, alone and depressed. I thought a 6 month grieving period would su... View more

I'm new to this so I'm not too sure how it works..I'm here because I've hit an all time low and really don't know where to turn. my partner and I broke up 6 months ago and I feel lost, alone and depressed. I thought a 6 month grieving period would suffice but the anxiety and depression is getting worse. I finished up my fifo job a month ago so now I'm just sitting around and I guess I have too much time to think. I have no family here (I moved to Australia from Ireland 8 years ago) and I don't have children so there's no great support system in place. I've been to life coaching and counciling and have good friends but nothing helps and I don't know where to turn. I've never experienced this kind of heartbreak and I don't know how to deal with it. Most days I feel like I have no reason to keep going. beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

rascal Being Around Others When You Are Depressed ....
  • replies: 2

Why is that when we are depressed all we want to do is be alone. And why is it that the first bit of advice or suggestion from either a friend , family member or a professional; Is to be in company of others .... ? For example ; My sister rings and s... View more

Why is that when we are depressed all we want to do is be alone. And why is it that the first bit of advice or suggestion from either a friend , family member or a professional; Is to be in company of others .... ? For example ; My sister rings and says "how are you ?" and i say "Im really depressed, i just want to be alone." and she says. "why don't you come over here" What does one do ? Do you force yourself to be around others, because apparently that is the best thing for someone suffering with depression... I am very confused and all i want to do is hide in my room.

Missing_the_sunshine Can't keep my head above water anymore
  • replies: 3

I just feel so tired of trying to keep everything together. I have suffered from Major Depression, Complex PTSD and OCD. I'm doing everything that everyone wants me to do but it isn't changing anything. I get home every night and am so exhausting fro... View more

I just feel so tired of trying to keep everything together. I have suffered from Major Depression, Complex PTSD and OCD. I'm doing everything that everyone wants me to do but it isn't changing anything. I get home every night and am so exhausting from wearing a mask every minute of the day. I get home and I just fall apart. I just can't help but feel like I have been fighting for so long that I have just reached the end...I feel so scared and alone! i don't have anyone to turn to that isn't a medical professional. I'm so lost! Im not sure that I can keep up the charade for much longer!beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636.

DWR Anxiety VS Depression
  • replies: 3

What is the difference between Anxiety and depression?

What is the difference between Anxiety and depression?

rascal severely Depressed and Confused...
  • replies: 7

For most of my life, i have battled with depression and anxiety. I also have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) and have just learnt that i fit into the "category" of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) <<< After finding this out, it has answer... View more

For most of my life, i have battled with depression and anxiety. I also have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) and have just learnt that i fit into the "category" of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) <<< After finding this out, it has answered a lot of un answered questions and now kind of makes a little sense. Lately , i have been feeling more depressed than i have ever felt in my life. I feel sad, scared, alone and very confused and i am not entirely sure why? It just hit me like a ton of bricks! I have been seeing the same doctor for over 15 years, so she knows me very well. i am in the process of getting some counseling and am starting on anti-depressants tomorrow. I have lost my passion for everything and have no drive what so ever. I find it really hard to even get out of bed - but i force myself to do so.... Even my housemates have noticed a change in me, they can see im not my normal self and now i am wondering who and what my normal self is... ? i know that keeping yourself busy and exercise can really assist with depression, along with routine. Currently , i find myself hiding in my room and not doing much of anything .... I don't want to speak to or see anybody. I don't like it when my phone rings , so it is off most of the time.. Gahhhh really need to try harder !

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright � 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map